Headlines: U.S. Open Cup Future Still Up for Debate

 

The Athletic:

A source briefed on the planning talks--speaking anonymously given the inconclusive nature of the discussions--said that the Open Cup Committee is already deep in the planning stages for the 2025 tournament, whose amateur qualifying rounds kick off on Oct. 5. The source characterized the talks as having “good collaboration” from all involved, and that all professional clubs will be expected to participate in some form. The talks have also included stakeholders from all participating professional leagues and amateur organizations.

[snip]

It’s a start, but there’s still a lot of work to be done to modernize and sophisticate this competition. Failing to enact the kinds of changes that ensure sustained long-term growth on these shores runs the risk of creating another annual tradition: whether each year’s U.S. Open Cup final will be the last game in this longstanding competition.